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Birth of the Blues

  • 1941
  • Approved
  • 1h 27m
IMDb RATING
6.3/10
496
YOUR RATING
Bing Crosby, Brian Donlevy, Eddie 'Rochester' Anderson, Carolyn Lee, and Mary Martin in Birth of the Blues (1941)
HistoryMusicRomance

Jeff grows up near Basin Street in New Orleans, playing his clarinet with the dock workers. He puts together a band, the Basin Street Hot-Shots, which includes a cornet player, Memphis. They... Read allJeff grows up near Basin Street in New Orleans, playing his clarinet with the dock workers. He puts together a band, the Basin Street Hot-Shots, which includes a cornet player, Memphis. They struggle to get their jazz music accepted by the cafe society of the city. Betty Lou join... Read allJeff grows up near Basin Street in New Orleans, playing his clarinet with the dock workers. He puts together a band, the Basin Street Hot-Shots, which includes a cornet player, Memphis. They struggle to get their jazz music accepted by the cafe society of the city. Betty Lou joins their band as a singer and gets Louey to show her how to do scat singing. Memphis and Je... Read all

  • Director
    • Victor Schertzinger
  • Writers
    • Harry Tugend
    • Walter DeLeon
    • Erwin Gelsey
  • Stars
    • Bing Crosby
    • Mary Martin
    • Brian Donlevy
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    6.3/10
    496
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Victor Schertzinger
    • Writers
      • Harry Tugend
      • Walter DeLeon
      • Erwin Gelsey
    • Stars
      • Bing Crosby
      • Mary Martin
      • Brian Donlevy
    • 17User reviews
    • 8Critic reviews
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • See production info at IMDbPro
    • Nominated for 1 Oscar
      • 1 win & 1 nomination total

    Photos34

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    Top Cast74

    Bing Crosby
    Bing Crosby
    • Jeff Lambert
    Mary Martin
    Mary Martin
    • Betty Lou Cobb
    Brian Donlevy
    Brian Donlevy
    • Memphis
    Carolyn Lee
    Carolyn Lee
    • Aunt Phoebe Cobb
    Eddie 'Rochester' Anderson
    Eddie 'Rochester' Anderson
    • Louey
    • (as Rochester)
    J. Carrol Naish
    J. Carrol Naish
    • Blackie
    Warren Hymer
    Warren Hymer
    • Limpy
    Horace McMahon
    Horace McMahon
    • Wolf
    • (as Horace MacMahon)
    Ruby Elzy
    • Ruby
    Jack Teagarden
    Jack Teagarden
    • Pepper
    Danny Beck
    • Deek
    Harry Barris
    Harry Barris
    • Suds
    Perry Botkin Sr.
    Perry Botkin Sr.
    • Leo
    • (as Perry Botkin)
    Minor Watson
    Minor Watson
    • Henri Lambert
    Harry Rosenthal
    Harry Rosenthal
    • Piano Player
    Donald Kerr
    • Skeeter, Barbershop Musician
    Barbara Pepper
    Barbara Pepper
    • Maizie
    Cecil Kellaway
    Cecil Kellaway
    • Granet
    • Director
      • Victor Schertzinger
    • Writers
      • Harry Tugend
      • Walter DeLeon
      • Erwin Gelsey
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    User reviews17

    6.3496
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    10

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    Related interests

    Liam Neeson in Schindler's List (1993)
    History
    Prince and Apollonia Kotero in Purple Rain (1984)
    Music
    Ingrid Bergman and Humphrey Bogart in Casablanca (1942)
    Romance

    Storyline

    Did you know

    • Trivia
      Though the movie is in black and white, in one scene, when Bing Crosby is singing "By the Light of the Silvery Moon" in a movie theater, a slide show being projected behind him is in full color, though Bing is still in black and white.
    • Quotes
      • Betty Lou Cobb: Somehow I don't feel as sorry for you as I do the hack driver.
    • Connections
      Features The Golden Princess (1925)
    • Soundtracks
      The Birth of the Blues
      (uncredited)

      Music by Ray Henderson

      Lyrics by Buddy G. DeSylva and Lew Brown

      Performed by Bing Crosby

    Top picks

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    Details

    • Release date
      • November 7, 1941 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Swingens födelse
    • Filming locations
      • Paramount Studios - 5555 Melrose Avenue, Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, USA(Studio)
    • Production company
      • Paramount Pictures
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    • Budget
      • $857,283 (estimated)
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Tech specs

    • Runtime
      • 1h 27m(87 min)
    • Color
      • Black and White
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.37 : 1

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